The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-10
PREACHERS DIFFER.
THE DOCTRINE OF PERFECT HOLINESS is
DEFENDED.
Letter from Rev. w. Smith M"rtih III
Reply to the Sermon of DIR. liho.

Letter from Rev. w. smith Martin In
Reply to the Sermon Of DR.. Iind.
say.
In the last issue Of the Press and Banner
there is q sermon hy Or d. " iIiustS ,,n n nc II
doctrine Of Perfect Holiness and coming aS II
does from Il ID. d., under the caption OF pnii' n.I
gerouS DeluSinn," deem it proper 10 give NE
views some notice, since there IL aanSer vi
his dcllnlng nnthinklng people an4 n'so 81 Pr, "
pagating and disseminating false IDEAS hS "
what peoble believe CONCERNING ln's ser'p'u'
raj doctrine of Christian Perfection; =,
will say in the outset, however tnat j uo
do make any profession of an eXperlehcE.o
state of sailctiflcatiOn, hut shall only Vlnui
cate the doctrine as taught by the Bible. anu
rs sustained by common sense .,, rei,So"'"s
when viewed independent OF creeolsm.
The Doctor talk cs for his text Gal. v, ~: toI '
the flesh lusteth against the spirit anu tne
spirit against the flesh" He starts ny say lnK,
There are wogreat moral prlncip,eS h Tpp"Sn one
To each other directly nntngonistic: Ihe one
Is called the 'od man. the flesh, the naLuta, y
man the Adam nature the other is c9Iiea
the new man. the spiritual man which .I, i !,
produced and fostered by the ne doy drs nrpncinc pfi
natural-'rhe old Adam naturen-tne laS' 81
principle, "the new man." "the spiritual
man." which lie claims to be fosterea d! Ihe
Now is it not plain to any thinking MIND
that DR.. Lindsay Is playing on words. ana
trying to draw n distinction where there Il, ~
none? Let any man take the passage ne
uses for a text. and upon which he founds ms
eyordium, and examine it closely in It's con.
nection, and think he Will soon llnu oM'
that the Doctor has made Of 1t misappllca'
tion. ,-,. ,bo
minds OF the Galatians, and bring them up 10
n standard of Christianity where the snadoW
will give place to the substance, ana WmGre
love, which is the fulfilling or all law, snitii oe
the ruling, controlling and all-absorping
traits of their lives, which Is the very thing
the true advocates of Scriptural holiness con-
tend for. He has reference TO the contehtioii,
Of two princlples-the principle or rlsnt anu
the principle of wrong-but he has no refer,
ence whatever To man possessing evil rs an
internal, innate, natural principle. ana tne
new man, or right principle as an eNIeIiiat q,
power, implanted In man by the ihnuence y,
the Holy Ghost, and as antagonistic TO mans
nature. ,. =.
There nrc two principles in the world o, Q,
responsible probation, In oppoS!tloh 10 Sacii
other, and the one is constantly cohtenulnt
sainst the other, but mans nature Is as SuS.
ccptible Of the one as the other until haolt
gives the advantage TO one OF lne ntieI
These people had put great stress upon lne or.
linance OF circumcision and .ey v 6H rS hecame anne
more spiritual in their feelings ana pracIlce;
Circumcision, the shadow, they wanted 10 nOlu
the place of the substance. This was ioweI
lie tells them that 1t Is the flesh lnstlng
against the spirit. 1t Is the flesh desiring ana
seeking for the aScendency. What man Dnl
knows whenever he makes mn eHort 10 aItuin y.
higher grade of Christian NE thnt tmert u
Is a very different thing from what me Doc, "
tor would teach. The animal nppeiite o. u
mans nature seeks for the first ana hlghesl
qualification, and this Is re1iJea % VIII ihaI an vn, ~
give the propensltics Of your flesh the ascend
ency. This great field Of conflict wherell'
the great principles of right and wrong opcr'
ate Is a realized state OF hnmanlty ON Prop,I I,,
This being The condition of things, Goa re,
yeals TO us In his word the TACT that we need
not yield ourselves servants Of TINS evil prlu'
cple, but that faith In Jesus ChrlSt OF naDi'-
ual practice of his commandments, Is the
grand design OF our present existence ana the
possibility of our nature. The conflict does
not compromise nor defeat
Because ] nm susceptible OF temptation
and capable of abusing the faculties OF my
nature, and because suggestions are maae nc
by the evil spirit, Is no reason why II Is tne
part, and the only part or my nature nnl
that because am In the flesh, that therefore
am locke up TO the necessity OF SHINING:
But the Doctor goes on from this 10 Il dls'
cuSslon of the matter. and states his pOsitiOn
by saying, ."Lct 1t not be promised that the
IA n admit that we are bound to he perfect as
our Father in heaven Is perfect. Nor Is II u
question as to the command OF Coo, lot tIhli
.'is that we should love The Lord our Coo
with all our heart, and soul, and mind, anu
strength, and our neIghbors as ourselves
He also says 1t Is not IL question concerning
the provisions of the gospel for tnls, ne
SAYS, provides for the complete Sanctincatlon
and salvation of all Gods people" Aftcr ne
thus states his position, he leaves the reader
to reconcile his statements with possible
salvation, since the above Is required. and
man cam iot attain it. some people viii no
doubt find this hlrd to do but those VINO
know the Doctors creed, eau read between
his lines, and see his way out OF the difficulty.
The following quotation from his sermon
Will show what he means. to those who un'
dersiand his creed. He sayS:
1--WE readily admit that God can make his
people holy ns well before rs after death. He
is able to do II. We arc not TO limit his pow
or. But II is II mere question OF iact-doeS nc
do IT.? Will be do itF 1answer In the mega
Tive"
Here the Doctor clearly shows that he holds
to this idea that holiness Or a state OF sinleSs
ness Is possible II God saw fit to give II, but
this life, and therefore he does not, OF course
make them so. He repudiatcS the idea ol
free agency OH the part OF man nltogethcr
and makes him corrupt machine by nature
(and believe in the future world sanctlfy his
chosen elect) he Will liberate them from the
necessary bondage OF sin.
Dr. Lindsay talks about II being pharsatcal
To profess 10 live WITHOUT COIlllllIlIlS III lH oul
if the above idea docs not smack OF pharisa.
ism, then am at loss TO define 1t.
Would It not seem more reasonable since
God has placed man moral being under the
law, revealed the law, and the requirement.,
aud also how the attainment is to DO made,
not TO make man by any eternal or forordered
arrangement holy. but on the basis OF a moral
hcIng. In obedience TO moral laws revealed 10
HIM, to live holy himself?
God did not make DIR. Lindsay preacher
but he endowed him with faculties to make
himself one. Nobody is more conscious OF
this than the Doctor himself. SO with this
does not make man holy, free. of mans
own intelligent choice. but he has endowed
him with power TO help him In making this
the registration Of his life.
lie does not propose TO reason the matter
from stanrpointof duty or divine require
ment, for NIL he says Is in favor OF holiness MS
laid down In his word, hut he proposes 10 dis
cusS 1t rs II Divine decree.
Gods word requires Christian perfection,
or holiness, or samctiicltion Uake either term
yCu peaSc) bul his dccrce-his Willis In op'
position to II.
God requires, or commands one thing, and
wills another. This seems To he the Doctors
idea. Holding To such ground, am not sur.
priSed that he Is opposed to the possibility OF
q holy practical christian lifo
He Will have to give up some Of his dogmas
before he can reach point whore he ran
take in the full meaningof divine revelation
to- man, and Gods design in the construction
Of his moral economy.
But will take up the Doctors reasons why
he is opposed 10 the doctrine OF Holiness. He
says his first argument Is derived from the
spirituality Of the law. at reaches lie says
"the heart, and nothing but absolute obe.
dience To Gods moral law Is holiness"
would like to ask what constitute absolute
obedience to the moral law? What makes a
thing moral? Is II not the possibility OF in
telligent choice9 With this capacity, ask.
can not any man in obedience TO Gods plan
absolutely keep his moral law! The ten
commandments contain all the requirement
and this Is the basis Of christianity. and was
expressed by our Lord in the unnIistallahle
declaration "Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart. and with MI thy soul,
and with all thy mind, and with all thy